Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium

Belgium: Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes was 2.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
2.3%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
88th
of 184 countries
All-time high
24.0%
in 1973
All-time low
2.2%
in 2016
Years of data
30
1973–2017

Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium, 1973–2017

05101520251973199520171973: 24 %1974: 23.3 %1975: 23.6 %1976: 23 %1977: 22.4 %1978: 22.5 %1979: 22.1 %1980: 18.9 %1981: 18.5 %1982: 19.4 %1983: 17.6 %1984: 17.3 %1985: 16.3 %1986: 15.9 %1987: 16.2 %1990: 15.8 %2003: 3.1 %2005: 3.2 %2006: 3.2 %2007: 3.4 %2008: 3.3 %2009: 3.3 %2010: 3.2 %2011: 3 %2012: 2.6 %2013: 2.5 %2014: 2.5 %2015: 2.3 %2016: 2.2 %2017: 2.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2017, repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium stood at 2.3%.

That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium peaked at 24.0% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2016.

Belgium ranks 88th of 184 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes (%) in Belgium, 1973 to 2017.
Year % Change
1973 24.0%
1974 23.3% -2.8%
1975 23.6% +1.2%
1976 23.0% -2.6%
1977 22.4% -2.6%
1978 22.5% +0.4%
1979 22.1% -1.5%
1980 18.9% -14.5%
1981 18.5% -2.1%
1982 19.4% +4.8%
1983 17.6% -9.1%
1984 17.3% -2.2%
1985 16.3% -5.5%
1986 15.9% -2.2%
1987 16.2% +1.6%
1990 15.8% -2.6%
2003 3.1% -80.4%
2005 3.2% +2.2%
2006 3.2% +0.3%
2007 3.4% +7.2%
2008 3.3% -3.0%
2009 3.3% -0.8%
2010 3.2% -3.2%
2011 3.0% -5.3%
2012 2.6% -11.9%
2013 2.5% -4.7%
2014 2.5% +1.0%
2015 2.3% -8.7%
2016 2.2% -3.5%
2017 2.3% +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 23.0% 22.1% 24.0% 7
1980s 17.5% 15.9% 19.4% 8
1990s 15.8% 15.8% 15.8% 1
2000s 3.2% 3.1% 3.4% 6
2010s 2.6% 2.2% 3.2% 8

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 85 Spain 2.5% compare
  2. 86 Grenada 2.4% compare
  3. 87 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 2.3% compare
  4. 89 Tanzania, United Republic of 2.1% compare
  5. 90 Netherlands 2.1% compare
  6. 91 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2.1% compare

See the full ranking of 184 places →

More reference data data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium?
Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium was 2.3% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 1973.
What is the lowest repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2016.
How does Belgium rank for repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes?
Belgium ranks 88th out of 184 countries with data for 2017.
Is repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/repetition-rate-in-primary-education-all-grades-both-sexes-percent/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Repetition rate in primary education (all grades), both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
184 places, 4,392 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Number of repeaters in primary education in a given school year, expressed as a percentage of enrolment in primary education in the previous school year. Divide the number of repeaters in primary education in school year t+1 by the number of pupils from the same cohort enrolled in primary education in the previous school year t.